By Kathi Valeii
Medically reviewed by Edmund Khoo, DDS
When you have a dry mouth, you may try drinking water to remedy the situation. But if water doesn't help, it could indicate that a health condition is causing dry mouth.
Common dry mouth remedies include changing medications, using saliva-producing over-the-counter (OTC) products, and treating underlying health conditions contributing to dry mouth.
This article explains the underlying causes of dry mouth, remedies, and what to do if dry mouth remedies are not working.
Thanasis Zovoilis / Getty Images
Before Trying Dry Mouth Remedies, Address the Underlying Cause
Medically, dry mouth is called xerostomia. Common causes of dry mouth include:1
Medication side effects
Health conditions, including Sjögren's syndrome (an autoimmune disease that causes joint pain and dry eyes and mouth), human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and AIDS, and diabetes
Radiation therapy
Chemotherapy
Nerve damage
Dehydration
You can also get a dry mouth when feeling anxious or stressed. However, if dry mouth happens more than occasionally, underlying issues may be the cause. In that case, seeing a healthcare provider for an accurate diagnosis is best.
Moisture-Adding Dry Mouth Remedies
One way to combat dry mouth is to add moisture to your mouth. Ideal liquids and other tactics for increasing moisture include:2
Frequently sipping water: It is probably the most automatic response to a dry mouth, and it's a great solution. Keep a water bottle handy and take it on the go. You can also mix it up with sucking on ice.
Sipping liquids while eating: You might also find that eating makes your dry mouth worse. Try taking frequent sips of water between bites to keep your mouth moisturized.
Sucking hard candy or chewing gum: Sucking hard candy or chewing gum stimulates the salivary glands and are great remedies for dry mouth. Just be careful about the sugar content and choose sugar-free alternatives when possible to avoid cavities.
In addition to adding in moisture-rich food and drinks, you'll also want to avoid things that can be drying, like caffeine.
Over-the-Counter Dry Mouth Remedies
In addition, there are products specifically made for dry mouth. These OTC dry mouth remedies include:2
Saliva substitutes
Moisturizing sprays or gels
Mouth rinses
Saliva substitute products temporarily lubricate the mouth and reduce dry mouth symptoms. A 2019 systematic review of the efficacy of artificial salivary substitutes found that all tested products reduced the symptoms of dry mouth.3
Further, it found that which product was superior depended on the cause of dry mouth. For example, when the reason was radiation therapy, herbal remedies worked best, but when the cause was medication side effects, oral spray, and 3% citric acid provided the best relief.3
If you use a mouth rinse, look for one specifically made to soothe dry mouth that is alcohol-free and has the American Dental Association seal of approval, such as Biotene.4
These products can all help with dry mouth symptoms at night because you don't have to worry about waking up to take a drink or getting up to use the bathroom because you drank too much before bed.
Lifestyle-Related Dry Mouth Remedies
Lifestyle modifications can help with your dry mouth symptoms. This involves good oral hygiene, routine dental prophylaxis (cleanings), and excellent at-home care.
The lack of saliva isn't just uncomfortable; it can increase your risk of tooth decay and oral thrush (a mouth yeast infection).5 That means it's extra important for people with dry mouth to keep up with preventive dental visits and to tend to problems quickly when they arise. A dentist may recommend more frequent visits for this reason.
Keeping up with at-home cleaning is also critical. You should follow the dentist's guidelines exactly. In addition to regular brushing and flossing, they may advise you to use an at-home fluoride treatment to help prevent cavities.
In addition, avoid things and foods that can make dry mouth worse. These include:6
Alcohol
Tobacco
Spicy or acidic foods
Chewy candies
Tough meats
Crackers and chips
Raw fruits or vegetables
Instead, you can eat well despite having a dry mouth. For example, try eating liquid foods, like gravy, sauce, milk, and yogurt, that will go down easily, or add them to solid food.7
Dry Mouth Remedies Not Working
If your dry mouth does not improve or if it worsens after trying remedies, it's time to see a healthcare provider. Since many health conditions or medication side effects can cause dry mouth, determining the underlying cause may be the only way to resolve the problem.
Is Dry Mouth Ever a Medical Emergency?
Dry mouth is not usually a medical emergency but can be a symptom of an underlying health condition. You should see a healthcare provider for ongoing dry mouth that doesn't resolve, especially if dry mouth is accompanied by difficulty swallowing or breathing.
Summary
Dry mouth is a common condition for many people at some point. It may be simply the result of anxiety or stress or indicate an underlying health condition, such as diabetes. Determining the best remedies for dry mouth depends on the cause. Some dry mouth remedies include sipping water, sucking hard candies or chewing gum, OTC saliva substitutes, and good oral hygiene.
Sources
National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research. Dry mouth.
American Academy of Oral Medicine. Dry mouth.
Assery MKA. Efficacy of artificial salivary substitutes in treatment of xerostomia: A systematic review. J Pharm Bioallied Sci. 2019;11(Suppl 1):S1-S12. doi:10.4103/jpbs.JPBS_220_18
American Dental Association. Biotene dry mouth oral rinse.
Health Resources and Services Administration. Oral health for people with dry mouth.
University of California San Francisco. Dry mouth.
American Cancer Society. Mouth dryness or thick saliva.
By Kathi Valeii
As a freelance writer, Kathi has experience writing both reported features and essays for national publications on the topics of healthcare, advocacy, and education. The bulk of her work centers on parenting, education, health, and social justice.
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